If the mere mention of a PowerPoint presentation makes you cringe -- jogging memories of overly choreographed slideshows masquerading as interesting -- then you haven't been to Pecha Kucha.

Created to spur interaction between young designers, PK -- at 7 tonight at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 1750 13th St. -- is a free night of local speakers presenting absorbing, captivating aspects of their lives.

I get it -- after a long week of lectures and meetings and seminars, the last thing you want to do on the weekend is listen to a stranger drone on in front of a PowerPoint.

Read my lips: Pecha Kucha is the absolute antithesis, with 10 intriguing speakers, 20 slides at 20 seconds each, and 6 minutes, 40 seconds per speaker. Easy enough?

For more information, visit bmoca.org.

Sugar Monster

Let's face it: First Friday in Boulder is a work in progress. You never know what you're gonna get until you've arrived.

But this week, I'm urging you to go early to experience the true meaning of the word masterpiece: a cupcake from Tee & Cakes, 1932 14th St. For free.

The boutique bakery is hosting an artist reception at 6:30 p.m. Friday for Aya Tanaka, creator of the Sugar Monster, and they're treating the first 100 visitors to a gorgeous, house-made cupcake gratis! A perfect blend of indulgence and culture, if you ask me.

Further details at teeandcakes.com.

Dance off

If you know me, you're privy to the fact that my poor dancing skills go far beyond the tragedy that is Elaine Benes.

If you don't know me, you've probably seen me out at bars, unleashing my lack of dexterity on unsuspecting friends (p.s., bless you all). I like to think I get better with booze, but I'm probably better off not knowing otherwise.

Luckily, Trattoria on Pearl, 1430 Pearl St., has Late Night Salsa beginning at 10:30 p.m. Friday which, ultimately, means it's dark enough to conceal my true identity on the dance floor.

Plus, with the opportunity to ask someone tall, dark and handsome for meringue lessons, my chances of starring in the "So You Think You Can Dance" "bad audition" reel someday go down slightly.

More info at trattoriaonpearl.com.

Sunday snacks

Being a broke intern, I try to be frugal when spending my (boyfriend's) money. So things like Happy Noodle House's Rotisserie Sunday special catch my eye.

For the low, low price of $35, couples can come in for something fancy off the rotisserie, plus all the accoutrements (French for side dishes). And with all the cash saved, they can stay for a signature crazy drink at the Bitter Bar.

Or they can just pocket it.

This special runs Sundays from 4 p.m. on. Details at happynoodlehouse.com.

Denim deeds

You know that pile of jeans from high school you have stashed in the back of your closet? It's called baggage, and I think it's about time we have a group intervention, accept that we will never shrink back to our 17-year-old weight, and get rid of those suckers for good.

Then we can rehab at the Twenty Ninth Street Great Denim Event from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

Donate your jeans to the National Pediatric AIDS Network or Humane Society of Boulder Valley for a voucher for cheap beer and a free pizza and then dance it off with music from Kahuna Beach Party.

Check it out at twentyninthstreet.com.

Stacy Parkinson's nightlife column appears every Thursday in the Colorado Daily. E-mail her tips at stacy.parkinson@colorado.edu.